Western Province have an outside chance of leapfrogging Northerns, the log leaders in the CSA Three-Day Provincial series, but they will have to beat Northerns and also win their final game in comprehensive fashion, and they will have to deny Northerns batting and bowling bonus points, if they are to stage a miraculous fightback in the senior provincial first-class division B.​

That will require a clinical and relentless effort, as WP have 105.78 points after eight matches and Northerns boast 151.54 after nine clashes. The two teams clash at the Tshwane University of Technology and their match starts on Thursday.​“We must keep on striving and also give opportunities to our young players. In three games this season, we had opportunities, but did not take 20 wickets,” says WP coach Paul Adams. The visitors are not familiar with the Tshwane University of Technology, and they will have to adapt quickly.Thando Ntini has gone to the Eastern Cape for his initiation and Mihali Mpongwana will get an opportunity as his replacement to showcase his talents as a young fast bowler.The in-form and prolific Jack Newby injured himself in their previous match and he is replaced by Mujahid Toffar.

Jesse Christiansen is another of the Young Guns who will be offered a chance to show his mettle. “The young players in our pipeline are getting call-ups, but they need to take those chances because they don’t know when they will get another one if they don’t perform,” Adams said.

Qaasim Adams has been in scintillating form and so is Jason Smith. If Christiansen and Matthew Kleinveldt perform as well, there is no reason why WP cannot coast to a score of 400 or more.The bowling attack has been on song the past season and covers all the basis. Smith gives the bowling attack depth, while Junaid Dawood and Kleinveldt ensure that the slow variations can also be utilised against the log leaders when their game starts on Thursday. The WP squad: Qaasim Adams, Jesse Christiansen, Michael Cohen, Junaid Dawood, Isaac Dikgale, Justin Dill, Matthew Kleinveldt, Carlos Koyana, Andre Malan (capt), Mihali Mpongwana, Mpilo Njoloza, Jason Smith, Mujahid Toffar.